Permits and Approvals

Alternate Methods and Materials

Apply to submit requests to use alternate materials, design or construction methods or a proposed code modification for your project. All changes, modifications or alterations to the approved plans and specifications during construction must be reviewed and approved by the City of San Diego prior to being incorporated into the construction documents.

Building Permit

This permit ensures that construction projects comply with local, state and federal standards for land use, zoning and construction, and verify compliance with the minimum standards that help safeguard life or limb, public health, property and welfare. Applications for an address/address change should also be submitted in this location. Eligibility for Rapid Review will be determined by staff based on project scope.

Construction Change and As-Graded to Engineering Permit

Apply to submit changes to approved grading and right-of-way permit or apply for a deferred As-Graded approval. For projects that were issued originally in a paper version, a scanned set of the approved drawings will be required to be uploaded for the reviewers.

Construction Change to Building Permit & Deferred Submittals

Apply to submit changes to approved Building, Combination, Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical and Sign permits and for deferred submittals. For projects that were issued originally in a paper version, a scanned set of the approved drawings will be required to be uploaded for the reviewers.

Contractor and Subcontractor Verification

This application is required to update contractor and subcontractor information for any additions or changes using the online permitting portal before commencing or continuing any work for required projects.

Demolition Permit

Demolition/Removal permits are required for the complete demolition and/or removal of any structure and are reviewed for compliance with the minimum standards necessary to safeguard public health, safety, and welfare. The intent of these procedures is to protect the public against personal injury or property damage and to ensure completion of the demolition or removal and cleanup of the site. A Demolition/Removal Permit is not required to demolish part of a structure. Partial demolition will require a Building Permit.

Discretionary Permit

This permit is required when a project may have impacts on the surrounding area due to a proposed use, design feature or project location. Substantial Conformance Review, amendment requests for existing discretionary permits, and development and policy approval requests described in Information Bulletin 503 should be submitted in this location.

Electrical Permit

This permit is required for the installation, alteration, addition or replacement of electrical wiring, devices, appliances or equipment, and to comply with the minimum standards necessary to safeguard life or limb, public health, property and welfare.
Photovoltaic (PV) permits not qualifying for the Residential Rooftop-Mounted Solar PV Permit below and electric vehicle charging stations not requiring a building permit shall be submitted via this link. If the scope of work includes any structural modifications to an existing building, any new structures, or if PV panels are ground-mounted, a Building Permit is required to be submitted.

Fire Permit

This permit or construction changes to a fire permit is required for the installation of fire suppression systems, fire alarm system, or component of such systems, and to comply with the minimum standards necessary to safeguard public health, safety and welfare.

Grading Permit

This permit is required when a project will change the topography of a property when conducting certain excavations or filling-in of an area. Construction changes to an existing Grading Permit, Site Reconnaissance and Testing applications, and As-Graded Soils Reports should also be submitted in this location.

Individual Historical Resource Nomination

This application is required for an individual property requesting docketing for a Historical Resources Board (HRB) agenda.

Mapping Action Approvals

This approval is required by State law and City Ordinance that the City Land Surveyor review and approve survey documents related to development projects to determine its conformity to law (such as zoning), its satisfaction of a development condition of approval, and its technical adequacy.

Mechanical Permit

This permit is required for the installation, alteration, replacement or repair of addition or replacement of heating, ventilating, air conditioning, or refrigeration system, and to comply with the minimum standards necessary to safeguard life or limb, public health, property and welfare.

Mills Act Agreement

This application is required to submit for a Mills Act Property Tax reduction.

Mobile Food Truck Permit

A mobile food truck permit is required for mobile food truck operations on private property.

Paper to Digital Plan Conversion

Apply to convert existing paper applications and plans for Discretionary, Engineering, Building and Combination Building permits that started in paper form before July 1, 2020, into digital formats, helping you submit plans and other documents for your project online 24/7.

Plumbing/Gas Permit

This permit is required for the alteration, addition or replacement of a plumbing system or portion of a plumbing system within or on any structure or premises and to comply with the minimum standards necessary to safeguard public health, safety, and welfare.

Preliminary Review

A preliminary review is a flat fee-based service tailored to your specific project to help you obtain general information on the regulations that apply to your project, find out which permits you must obtain, the review process that applies to your development, and obtain interpretations on how the City will apply code provisions to specific situations. Staff responses to your specific questions will be documented and provided to you at the completion of the review.

Public Project Assessment

A Public Project Assessment (PPA) is an optional service for evaluating project feasibility on property owned, leased, or maintained by the city. The process assists in determining whether a discretionary permit is required, establishing consistency with existing environmental approvals, or providing a stand-alone environmental determination. A determination will be documented and provided at the completion of the review.

Residential Rooftop-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit

This permit is required to install a rooftop-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) system on a single-family home or duplex structure. If the scope of work includes any structural modifications to the existing building, any new structure to support the panels such as carports or shade structures, or if the PV panels are ground-mounted, a Building Permit is required to be submitted.

Right-of-Way Permit

This permit is required for any new construction or above ground or underground improvements in the public right-of-way, including utilities such as water, sewer, gas and electric lines. The public right-of-way is located outside the boundaries of the private property lines. This permit is also required for encroachments into any public or private utility easement.

Sign Permit

This permit is required for the installation or alteration of signs.

Spaces as Places

This permit allows for the use of the public right-of-way and private property for outdoor dining through Streetaries, Active Sidewalks, Outdoor Dining on Private Property and Promenades.

Street Address Request or Change

This application is to request new street addresses or street address changes not included in an existing building permit application. This application changes or assigns address numbers and is not used to change the street name.

Street Tree Permit

This permit is required for planting a new tree, pruning or maintaining an existing tree, located in the City's right of way.

Temporary Use Permit

A temporary use permit (TUP) is for certain uses for limited time periods in locations where the uses would not otherwise be allowed in the applicable zone.

Traffic Control Permit

This permit is required for all public improvement projects, construction projects or other work encroaching into the public right-of-way, including the sidewalks, parking spaces, medians, alleys and streets.

Transportation Permit

This permit is required for oversized and/or overweight vehicles over a designated route on a specified date.

Zone History Letter

A Zone History Letter confirms past and current zoning and land use regulations that govern a specific property within the City of San Diego’s jurisdiction and outlines redevelopment rights if zoning and land use regulations change.

Zoning Use Verification

This approval is needed to request zoning use verifications for regulated uses by other agencies, including the sale, distribution and consumption of alcohol, animal shelters, vehicle dismantling or registration, out-patient medical clinics and related facilities, as well as firearm sales.